## St. Petersburg private Detective Association Head Detained on treason Charges
Andrei Matushkin, the president of the International Association of Private Detectives, a non-profit partnership, is currently in detention in St. Petersburg following his arrest. He is being held for two months as a suspect in a criminal case involving treason (Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code).
according to reports from RBC, citing law enforcement sources, investigators allege Matushkin collected and transmitted state secrets to foreign entities. He is also suspected of collaborating with foreign intelligence services and aiding their operations within Russia, with initial reports suggesting potential contacts with representatives from Baltic countries. If convicted, Matushkin could face a sentence of up to life imprisonment.
The International Association of Detectives was founded in 2009 and primarily focused on investigations such as infidelity checks, locating stolen vehicles, and finding missing persons. Private detective Mikhail Loktionov noted that membership in the association was open to anyone who paid dues, and included citizens from countries like the United States and Great Britain.
This arrest comes amid heightened concerns regarding foreign interference in the region. As reported by EADaily, Sergey Naryshkin, director of the Russian Foreign intelligence Service (SVR), recently stated that Western countries are attempting to destabilize the Commonwealth of Self-reliant States (CIS).
